End of Summer Update

Well, it's time for another update. So much has happened since the last time I wrote. September has gone, and October is cruising along. We are enjoying watching the leaves change colors all around us. It's fun to look across all the trees and spot red, orange, yellow, green, and brown. Many are falling. We've had fun with the Shop Vac on the back deck to help blow off the leaves that fall from the backyard trees. These trees are so pretty behind our house, but our backyard neighbor informed us that once the leaves are gone, they can see anything and everything through our windows. We'd better watch out!

School is in full swing! The kids are enjoying their teachers and classmates. They like walking to and from school each day. We have had a bit of rain, so they have also had fun being dropped off at the "Kiss and Ride." Our oldest is enjoying learning how to play the violin. The practicing is hard, but she plugs along. She also has been going to a volleyball clinic (which mom has been coaching). It's their time away to play together. She's learned bumping, setting and serving. I think she likes serving the best (and she wants to learn how to serve overhand).
Our son is liking Cub Scouts. He earned his Bobcat award at the last pack meeting. We have another one coming up this week, and he enjoys doing things with boys his age. He has also had fun playing soccer. His team is the Asteroids. He likes having dad coach. They are improving each week. His favorite part of soccer is hitting the ball with his head!
The middle one likes soccer, too. She has three sets of twins on her team. It keeps things interesting! We just hope the coach can tell them apart! He should, one set is his! She also likes walking to school with a boy in her class. The two of them have had playdates, and were just chosen from the classmates to go to some extra meetings (I think it's some sort of class representative thing)!
Our two year old keeps things interesting. We've decided that she is too big to wear a diaper, so we are officially potty training! She likes the idea of treats and stickers when she goes on the potty, but actually getting her to sit on the potty is turning out to be tricky! We'll see what we have to bribe her with! She's also transitioning to no naps. She stays up too late at night when she has a nap. So, we are trying to keep her up during the day, so she can go to bed early at night. That works fine until we're going somewhere in the car. She always falls asleep. She is also turning into quite the little singer. She sings many songs that we sing to her at bedtime. She also has been coming up with her own words. They are hilarious! "The baaaby is cryyyyyyiiiiiinnnng all the tiiiiiiiiime!"
The baby is such a sweetie! Except when she wakes up in the middle of the night and she's ready to play. It happens often and we're going to have to let her cry it out. She has a playpen downstairs for such occassions. She loves to open cupboards and pull everything out. She also puts everything in her mouth (her favorite being toilet paper!) She would rather be outside than any other place. She loves going on walks, which is good for me (so I can get in shape!)
I just had a birthday celebration. J surprised me with a Columbus Day BBQ, which he invited over 75 people to! We had a great time and it was beautiful weather. He cooked dutch oven chicken and potatoes and cobbler for dessert!
I also enjoyed a great trip to Utah. My cousin got married and it was so nice to be able to go and witness that, as well as see some family members that I haven't seen in a while. My great brother and his wife let me stay with them and their cute kids! We had fun reading books, picking pumpkins, going on walks, shopping, eating out, and playing the Wii. I was also able to see J's sister and spend a couple hours with her. I miss my family so much. It's hard to live far away from them all.
J competed in a triathlon. He's been training for quite a while. He gets up early and swims, bikes, or runs. He has been very dedicated. I think it payed off and he enjoyed the whole experience. Now he wants me to join him! I don't think so! Well, maybe someday!
We had a fun time at the kids school Fall Festival with games, food and all kinds of fun things to do. The girls loved coloring and decorating pumpkins, while the rest of us played games and helped run some of them.
As you can see, fall has been a great season for us. We wish it could last a while longer!